Non-reactive ink vehicle formulation

ABSTRACT

The present invention is drawn to ink-vehicle compositions and systems adapted for use in low dye load ink compositions, contain no salts, and provide low orifice plate puddling. Specifically, a non-reactive ink-vehicle for low dye-load ink-jet inks can comprise an effective amount of water; from 1% to 3% by weight of a 1,5-pentanediol co-solvent; from 7.5% to 15% by weight of a trimethylolpropane co-solvent; and from 5% to 8% by weight of a third co-solvent, with the proviso that the ink-vehicle comprise at least 20% by weight of total co-solvent. Alternatively, a non-reactive ink-vehicle for low dye-load ink-jet inks can comprise an effective amount of water; from 1% to 3% by weight of a 1,5-pentanediol co-solvent; from 7.5% to 15% by weight of a trimethylolpropane co-solvent; and from 0.05% to 0.25% of a buffer consisting essentially of 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol. These ink-jet ink vehicles can be used in swappable ink-jet pen systems having a common service station.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/094,861, filed on Mar. 11, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,765.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is drawn to the area of ink-jet imaging. Morespecifically, the present invention is drawn to ink-jet ink vehiclesthat are adapted for use in low dye load inks, contain no salts, andprovide low orifice plate puddling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, computer printer technology has evolved to a pointwhere very high resolution images can be transferred to various types ofmedia, including paper. One particular type of printing involves theplacement of small drops of a fluid ink onto a media surface in responseto a digital signal. Typically, the fluid ink is placed or jetted ontothe surface without physical contact between the printing device and thesurface.

Within this general technique, the specific method that the ink-jet inkis deposited onto the printing surface varies from system to system, andcan include continuous ink deposit and drop-on-demand ink deposit.

With regard to continuous printing systems, inks used are typicallybased on solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone and ethanol. Essentially,continuous printing systems function as a stream of ink droplets areejected and directed by a printer nozzle. The ink droplets are directedadditionally with the assistance of an electrostatic charging device inclose proximity to the nozzle. If the ink is not used on the desiredprinting surface, the ink is recycled for later use. With regard todrop-on-demand printing systems, the ink-jet inks are typically basedupon water and solvents such as glycols. Essentially, with thesesystems, ink droplets are propelled from a nozzle by heat or by apressure wave such that all of the ink droplets ejected are used to formthe printed image.

There are several reasons that ink-jet printing has become a popular wayof recording images on various media surfaces, particularly paper. Someof these reasons include low printer noise, capability of high-speedrecording, and multi-color recording. Additionally, these advantages canbe obtained at a relatively low price to consumers. However, thoughthere has been great improvement in ink-jet printing, accompanying thisimprovement are increased demands by consumers in this area, e.g.,higher speeds, higher resolution, full color image formation, increasedstability, etc.

In general, ink-jet inks are either dye- or pigment-based inks. Both aretypically prepared in an ink vehicle that contains the dye and/or thepigment. Dye-based ink-jet inks generally use a liquid colorant that isusually water-based to turn the media a specific color. Conversely,pigmented inks typically use a solid or dispersed colorant to achievecolor.

Many properties that are desirable for ink-jet printing include goodedge acuity and optical density of an image on a media substrate, gooddry time of the ink on the substrate, adhesion to the substrate, lack ofdeviation of ink droplets when fired, presence of all dots, resistanceof the ink after drying to water and other solvents, long-term storagestability, good dot size and dot gain, color-to-color bleed alleviation,acceptable coalescence, long term reliability without corrosion ornozzle clogging, good light fastness, good wet fastness, low humid hueshift, and other known properties. Many inks are known to possess someof the above described properties. However, few inks are known thatpossess all of these properties, since an improvement in one propertyoften results in the degradation in another property. Accordingly,investigations continue into developing ink formulations that haveimproved properties and that do not improve one property at thesignificant detriment of another. However, many challenges still remainto further improve the image quality and lightfastness of ink-jet printswithout sacrificing pen performance and reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that the use of certain vehicle components incertain combinations provide a non-reactive ink vehicle that works wellwith low dye load magenta and cyan dyes, and medium dye load black dyes.This is particularly useful when such ink vehicles (with theirrespective dye component) are used in an ink-jet pen that is designed toshare a service station with a pen containing acrylate dispersedpigment-based ink. Because the ink vehicles of the present invention arenon-reactive with these and other ink-jet inks, the sharing of a servicestation does not result in increased orifice crusting.

In accordance with principles of an embodiment of the present invention,a non-reactive ink-vehicle for low dye-load ink-jet inks can comprise aneffective amount of water; from 1% to 3% by weight of a 1,5-pentanediolco-solvent; from 7.5% to 15% by weight of a trimethylolpropaneco-solvent; and from 5% to 8% by weight of a third co-solvent, with theproviso that the ink-vehicle comprise at least 20% by weight of totalco-solvents.

In an alternative embodiment, a non-reactive ink-vehicle for lowdye-load ink-jet inks can comprise an effective amount of water; from 1%to 3% by weight of a 1,5-pentanediol co-solvent; from 7.5% to 15% byweight of a trimethylolpropane co-solvent; and from 0.05% to 0.25% of abuffer consisting essentially of2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol.

A system having swappable ink-jet pens for use in a single servicestation can comprise a first ink-jet pen containing a pigment-basedink-jet ink; a second ink-jet pen containing a dye-based ink-jet inkthat is non-reactive with the pigment-based ink-jet ink; and a singleservice station configured for servicing the first ink-jet pen and thesecond ink-jet pen. Preferably, the present system can function byutilizing swappable pens wherein substantially no reaction between thepigment-based ink-jet ink and the dye-based ink-jet ink occurs at theservice station, the first ink-jet pen, or the second ink-jet pen uponswapping the first ink-jet pen for the second ink-jet pen, or viceversa.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the particular processsteps and materials disclosed herein because such process steps andmaterials may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only. The terms are not intended to be limiting because thescope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by theappended claims and equivalents thereof.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referentsunless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, “effective amount” refers to the minimal amount of asubstance or agent, which is sufficient to achieve a desire effect. Forexample, an effective amount of a “surfactant” is the minimum amountrequired in order to create a dye-based ink-vehicle, while maintainingproperties in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

As used herein, “liquid vehicle” or “ink vehicle” refers to the vehiclein which colorant is placed to form an ink. Many ink vehicles andvehicle components are known in the art. However, the use of specificcomponents at specific amounts can provide improved ink-jet inkcharacteristics. Typical ink vehicles can include a mixture of a varietyof different agents, such as surfactants, solvents, co-solvents,buffers, biocides, sequestering agents, viscosity modifiers,surface-active agents, and water.

“Non-reactive ink-vehicle” refers to ink vehicles that do not containreactive salts. However, dyes used in conjunction with non-reactiveink-vehicles can be a salt, provided the salt content is low enough thatthe ink-jet ink formulation is substantially non-reactive.

With this in mind, the present invention is drawn to the area of ink-jetimaging. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to ink-jetink vehicles that are adapted for use in low dye load inks, contain nosalts, and provide low orifice plate puddling. Particularly, it has beenrecognized that specific ink-jet ink vehicles containing a low magentaor cyan dye load (less than 3% by weight), or a low to medium black dyeload (less than 5% by weight), can be jetted effectively from printheads designed and tuned for jetting very different ink-jet inks, suchas salt-containing inks having over 8% by weight 1,5-pentanediol.

A typical formulation for an ink vehicle useful in the practice of thisinvention can include three co-solvents. Such co-solvents include1,5-pentanediol present at from 1% to 3% by weight, trimethylolpropaneat from 7.5% to 15% by weight, and a third co-solvent present at from 5%to 8% by weight, with the proviso that the total co-solvent weight ratiois greater than 20% by weight. In this embodiment, an optional bufferconsisting essentially of 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol canbe present.

Alternatively, a non-reactive ink-vehicle for low dye-load ink-jet inkcan comprise an effective amount of water; from 1% to 3% by weight of a1,5-pentanediol co-solvent; from 7.5% to 15% by weight of atrimethylolpropane co-solvent; and from 0.05% to 0.25% of a bufferconsisting essentially of 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol. Inthis embodiment, an optional third co-solvent can be present.

Classes of co-solvents that can be used as the third co-solvent caninclude aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, diols, glycol ethers,polyglycol ethers, pyrrolidines, pyrrolidinones, and mixtures thereof,with the proviso that no more than 10 carbons be present with respect toeach third co-solvent. Examples of such compounds include primaryaliphatic alcohols, secondary aliphatic alcohols, 1,2-alcohols,1,3-alcohols, 1,5-alcohols, ethylene glycol alkyl ethers, propyleneglycol alkyl ethers, higher homologs of polyethylene glycol alkylethers, substituted and unsubstituted pyrrolidines, substituted andunsubstituted pyrrolidinones, and the like. Though there is some degreeof variance that can occur with respect to the third co-solvent, theink-vehicle formulation must include 1,5-pentanediol andtrimethylolpropane. In one embodiment, a third co-solvent can preferablybe 2-pyrrolidinone.

In addition to the vehicle components described above, a surfactantcomponent can also be present, preferably a combination of a non-ionicsurfactant and an anionic surfactant. The surfactant component cancomprise alkyl polyethylene oxides, alkyl phenyl polyethylene oxides,polyethylene oxide block copolymers, acetylenic polyethylene oxides,polyethylene oxide (di)esters, polyethylene oxide amines, protonatedpolyethylene oxide amines, protonated polyethylene oxide amides,dimethicone copolyols, substituted amine oxides, and the like. Theamount of total surfactant added to the formulation of this inventioncan range from 1% to 5% by weight. In one embodiment, the totalsurfactant can include from 1% to 3% by weight of one or more non-ionicsurfactant, and from 0.1% to 1% by weight of one or more anionicsurfactant. In one embodiment, the nonionic surfactant can be TERGITOL15-S-5, TERGITOL 15-S-7, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment,the anionic surfactant can be DOWFAX 8390, for example.

It is often desirable with respect to ink-jet ink formulations to have abuffer present in order help maintain a stable pH during storage as wellas during operating conditions. In accordance with the presentinvention, some buffers can contribute to undesired properties,particularly when in the presence of a nonionic surfactant. For example,certain buffer/nonionic surfactant combinations can lower what is knownas the cloud point to an extent that the nonionic surfactant will notstay in solution at room temperature (or slightly above roomtemperature), making the ink unsuitable for effective use. In accordancewith this principle, because the ink-vehicle formulations of the presentinvention are specific with respect to functionality, there are manybuffers used in the ink-jet ink arts that are not desirable for use. Forexample, 4-morpholineethanesulfonic acid (MES) and4-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid (MOPS) are not particularly useful withthe present ink vehicles, particularly when used with low dye loadformulations having one or more nonionic surfactant present. However,2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (TRIZMA) can be used in thepresent ink-vehicles with improved results. Preferably, if the TRIZMAbuffer is used, then it can be present at from 0.05% to 0.25% by weight.As an example, an ink vehicle prepared in accordance with the presentinvention having a TERGITOL nonionic surfactant present, and MOPS or MESbuffer present instead of TRIZMA, at 40° C., two layers can form wherethe nonionic surfactant actually comes out of solution. As this is notdesirable for effective use in accordance with the present invention,MOPS and MES are undesirable for use when the ink-jet ink also containsa nonionic surfactant component.

The balance of the formulation can be purified water, though other knownvehicle components can be included, provided they are not specificallyexcluded by the present disclosure. Consistent with the formulation ofthis invention, various other additives may be employed to optimize theproperties of the ink composition for specific applications. Examples ofthese additives are those added to inhibit the growth of harmfulmicroorganisms. These additives may be biocides, fungicides, and othermicrobial agents, which are routinely used in ink formulations. Examplesof suitable microbial agents include, but are not limited to, Nuosept(Nudex, Inc.), Ucarcide (Union carbide Corp.), Vancide (R. T. VanderbiltCo.), Proxel (ICI America), and combinations thereof. Sequesteringagents such as EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid) may be included toeliminate the deleterious effects of heavy metal impurities. From 0.001%to 2.0% by weight, for example, can be used. Viscosity modifiers mayalso be present, as well as other additives known to those skilled inthe art to modify properties of the ink as desired. Such additives canbe present at from 0.01% to 20% by weight.

In addition to the above ink-vehicle compositions, a system havingswappable ink-jet pens for use in a single service station can comprisea first ink-jet pen containing a pigment-based ink-jet ink. Thepigment-based ink-jet ink can comprise an acrylate dispersant, thoughthis is not required. The system can also comprise a second ink-jet pencontaining a dye-based ink-jet ink that is non-reactive with thepigment-based ink jet ink. Such a dye-based ink-jet ink can comprisefrom 0.1% to 4% by weight of a dye; and an ink-vehicle that isnon-reactive with the pigment-based ink-jet ink, wherein the ink-vehiclecomprises an effective amount of water, from 1% to 3% by weight of a1,5-pentanediol co-solvent, and from 7.5% to 15% by weight of atrimethylolpropane co-solvent. Additionally, a single service stationcan be present that is configured for servicing the first ink-jet penand the second ink-jet pen. Preferably, the present system can functionby utilizing swappable pens wherein substantially no reaction betweenthe pigment-based ink-jet ink and the dye-based ink-jet ink occurs atthe service station, the first ink-jet pen, or the second ink-jet pen.In one embodiment, any residual pigment-based ink-jet ink remaining onthe single service station after servicing and removal of the firstink-jet pen should not substantially react with the dye-based ink-jetink upon servicing of the second ink-jet pen at the single servicestation. In another embodiment, residual dye-based ink-jet ink remainingon the single service station after servicing and removal of the secondink-jet pen should not substantially react with the pigment-basedink-jet ink upon servicing of the first ink-jet pen at the singleservice station.

The configuration described with respect to the above system can beuseful for a number of purposes. For example, a four-color printingsystem comprising a dye-based cyan, a dye-based magenta, a dye-basedyellow, and a pigment-based black can be effective for general colorprinting on plain paper. Such a pigment-based black works nicely forobtaining rich blacks on plain paper. However, if a full color image isto be printed on glossy photo media (such as HP Photo Premium pluspaper), black pigment-based ink is less desirable for use. In thiscircumstance, a pen containing the black pigment-based ink-jet ink canbe replaced with a pen containing a dye-based ink-jet ink comprising avehicle of the present invention. Thus, because the ink-vehicles of thepresent invention do not contain reactive salts, the pen can swappedwith the pigment-based ink-jet ink pen without undesirable orifice plateor service station reactive properties, e.g., crusting.

In an alternative embodiment, the same three pen dye-based ink-jet inkset of cyan, magenta, and yellow can be used with a black pigment-basedink-jet ink. The black pigment-based ink-jet ink can be replaced with acompartmentalized pen having cyan dye-based ink-jet ink, a magentadye-based ink-jet ink, and black dye-based ink-jet ink, therebyproviding a six-ink dye-based ink set, i.e., two cyan, two magenta, oneyellow, and one black. Thus, for plain paper printing, the threestandard dye-based inks can be printed with a pigment-based ink,resulting in rich black and color images on plain paper.

Alternatively, when printing on photo paper designed primarily fordye-based inks, the three standard dye-based inks can be printed with anadditional non-reactive dye-based cyan ink, an additional non-reactivedye-based magenta ink, and a non-reactive dye-based black ink. Exemplarypigment-based ink-jet inks that can be used that are non-reactive withthe ink vehicles of the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No.5,302,197, which is incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate the embodiments of the invention thatare presently best known. However, it is to be understood that thefollowing are only exemplary or illustrative of the application of theprinciples of the present invention. Numerous modifications andalternative compositions, methods, and systems may be devised by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. The appended claims are intended to cover suchmodifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention hasbeen described above with particularity, the following Examples providefurther detail in connection with what are presently deemed to be themost practical and preferred embodiments of the invention.

Example 1 Preparation of Various Ink-Jet Inks in Accordance with anEmbodiment of the Present Invention

Three ink-jet inks were prepared in accordance with Tables 1–3 asfollows:

TABLE 1 Magenta ink-jet ink INGREDIENT Wt % trimethylolpropane 12.0%2-pyrrolidinone 6.5% 1,5-pentanediol 2.0% TERGITOL 15-S-5 1.0% TERGITOL15-S-7 1.0% DOWFAX 8390 0.6% TRIZMA buffer 0.2% EDTA 0.0075% magenta dye0.7% water Balance

TABLE 2 Black ink-jet ink INGREDIENT Wt % trimethylolpropane 12.0%2-pyrrolidinone 6.5% 1,5-pentaediol 2.0% TERGITOL 15-S-5 1.0% TERGITOL15-S-7 1.0% DOWFAX 8390 0.6% TRIZMA buffer 0.2% EDTA 0.0075% black dye3.8% Water Balance

TABLE 3 Cyan ink-jet ink INGREDIENT Wt % trimethylolpropane 12.0%2-pyrrolidinone 6.5% 1,5-pentanediol 2.0% TERGITOL 15-S-5 1.0% TERGITOL15-S-7 1.0% DOWFAX 8390 0.6% TRIZMA buffer 0.2% EDTA 0.0075% cyan dye1.2% water Balance

These three low to medium dye load ink-jet inks provided in Tables 1–3above can be used with many higher dye load ink sets, but have beenshown to be particularly useful when used in conjunction with the highdye load ink set identified by Hewlett-Packard part number HP C6657A.Additionally, because of the makeup of the ink-vehicle of the inks ofTables 1–3, a single service station can be shared with a blackpigment-based ink-jet ink. In one embodiment, if all three ink-jet inksof Tables 1–3, each containing ink-vehicles in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, are used with the three inks of theHP C6657A ink set, a six-ink ink set can be arranged that works welltogether. Further, any of the inks of Tables 1–3 contained in an ink-jetpen can be swapped with an ink-jet ink pen containing a blackpigment-based ink-jet ink, even if the black pigment-based ink-jet inkcomprises an acrylate dispersant. For example, a black pigment-basedink-jet ink pen can be swapped with pens containing the ink-jet inks ofTable 1–3, including pens containing black pigment-based ink-jet inkssuch as those having pen number C6658A, manufactured by the HewlettPackard Company. In addition to these advantages, the inks preparedaccording to Tables 1–3 provide for low to medium dye load ink-jet inkshaving good lightfastness, hue, chroma, and lightness.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainpreferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatvarious modifications, changes, omissions, and substitutions can be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,therefore, that the invention be limited only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A system having at least two ink-jet pens swappable with one anotherfor use with a single service station, comprising: a first ink-jet pencontaining a pigment-based ink-jet ink; a second ink-jet pen containinga dye-based ink-jet ink, said dye-based ink-jet ink being substantiallynon-reactive with said pigment-based ink-jet ink; and a single servicestation configured for servicing the first ink-jet pen, and furtherbeing configured for servicing the second ink-jet pen when the firstink-jet pen has been replaced by the second ink-jet pen such thatsubstantially no reaction between the pigment-based ink-jet ink and thedye-based ink-jet ink occurs at the service station.
 2. A system as inclaim 1, wherein residual pigment-based ink-jet ink remaining on thesingle service station after servicing and removal of the first ink-jetpen does not substantially react with the dye-based ink-jet ink uponservicing of the second ink-jet pen at the single service station.
 3. Asystem as in claim 1, wherein residual dye-based ink-jet ink remainingon the single service station after servicing and removal of the secondink-jet pen does not substantially react with the pigment-based ink-jetink upon servicing of the first ink-jet pen at the single servicestation.
 4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the dye-based ink-jet inkcomprises from 0.1% to 4% by weight of a dye; and further comprises anink-vehicle having an effective amount of water, from 1% to 3% by weightof a 1,5-pentanediol co-solvent, and from 7.5% to 15% by weight of atrimethylolpropane co-solvent.
 5. A system as in claim 4, wherein theink vehicle further comprises from 5% to 8% by weight of a thirdco-solvent, with the proviso that the ink-vehicle comprise at least 20%by weight of total co-solvent.
 6. A system as in claim 4, wherein theink vehicle further comprises from 0.05% to 0.25% of a2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol buffer.
 7. A system as inclaim 4, wherein the ink vehicle further comprises a surfactantcomponent having from 1% to 3% by weight of one or more non-ionicsurfactant, and from 0.1% to 1% by weight of one or more anionicsurfactant.
 8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the pigment-based ink-jetink comprises an effective amount of acrylate dispersant.
 9. A systemhaving swappable ink-jet pens for use with a single service station,comprising: a first ink-jet pen containing a pigment-based ink-jet ink;a second ink-jet pen containing a dye-based ink-jet ink, said dye-basedink-jet ink being substantially non-reactive with said pigment-basedink-jet ink, wherein the dye-based ink-jet ink comprises from 0.1% to 4%by weight of a dye and an ink-vehicle including water, from 1% to 3% byweight of a 1,5-pentanediol co-solvent, and from 7.5% to 15% by weightof a trimethylolpropane co-solvent; and a single service stationconfigured for servicing the first ink-jet pens and further beingconfigured for servicing the second ink-jet pen when the first ink-jetpen has been replaced by the second ink-jet pen such that substantiallyno reaction between the pigment-based ink-jet ink and the dye-basedink-jet ink occurs at the service station.
 10. A system as in claim 9,wherein the ink vehicle further comprises from 5% to 8% by weight of athird co-solvent, with the proviso that the ink-vehicle comprise atleast 20% by weight of total co-solvent.
 11. A system as in claim 9,wherein the ink vehicle further comprises from 0.05% to 0.25% of a2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol buffer.
 12. A system as inclaim 9, wherein the ink vehicle further comprises a surfactantcomponent having from 1% to 3% by weight of one or more non-ionicsurfactant, and from 0.1% to 1% by weight of one or more anionicsurfactant.